Papers on the Destruction of Native Birds. 1 8 1 



FOURTH PAPER. 



By F. W. Langdon, M. D. 



(Read June i, iSS6.) 



Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemrnt — In response 

 to the request of a number of members of the Society, I have de- 

 cided to continue the consideration of the subject of " Destruction 

 of our Native Birds," viewing the matter from a somewhat different 

 stand])oint from that taken by the committee, whose interesting 

 and instructive papers we hstened to with much i)leasure and jirofit 

 at our last meeting. It seems to me that the other side of this 

 question should at least have a hearing. 



I propose, therefore, to discuss the subject so far as my 



limited time and ability will permit, from what is at present 



perhaps deservedly so — the ////pojjular side. 



The main proposition sought to be established by the reports 

 of your committee, the committee of the American Ornitholigists' 

 Union, -i- and papers of similar tenor by various individuals, is — 



That our song-birds, insect-eating species and smaller birds 

 generally, are in danger of suffering a notable decrease in numbers, 

 or even extermination, by reason of — 



First — The demands of fashion for millinery and dress 

 ornaments. 



Second — The bloodthirsty disposition of the "bad small 

 boy." 



Third — The market gunner, or "pot hunter." 



Fourth — The ornithological collector and student. 



It shall be my aim this evening to direct your attention to 

 some facts which show the extreme improbability of any such mis- 

 fortune resulting from either of these causes, or from any others at 

 present within our knowledge. 



In support of the claim that the demand for millinery purposes 

 is the chief cause of an anticipated extermination of song-birds, we 

 find numerous high-sounding figures in the various papers referred 

 to. Let us see what these figures are and to what birds they apply. 

 Mr. William Dutcherf states (quoted also by your committee), " that 

 40,000 tsj-ns were killed on Cape Cod in one season; that at 

 Cobb's Island, off the Virginia coast, 40,000 birds," mainly gulls 

 and terns, were contracted for by an enterprising woman from New 



* Vide "Science Supri.F.MENT," Foli. 26, 1SS6, No, 160 

 ■\ Ibid. 



